先世系江西(xi)彭(peng)澤(ze)人,曾(ceng)祖(zu)父曾(ceng)遜,祖(zu)父曾(ceng)輝(hui)。父曾(ceng)璠(fan),嘉(jia)靖四(si)十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)壬戍(shu)科進(jin)士。曾(ceng)省吾生于嘉(jia)靖十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1532年(nian)(nian)(nian)),嘉(jia)靖三(san)(san)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)丙辰科進(jin)士。隆慶末年(nian)(nian)(nian),以(yi)右僉都御(yu)史(shi)巡撫四(si)川,《明(ming)史(shi)稿》稱其“嫻(xian)將略,善治邊”,“蒞事精勤,多(duo)有建白”。萬(wan)(wan)歷元年(nian)(nian)(nian),四(si)川敘州土司(si)都掌蠻叛亂(luan),曾(ceng)省吾薦劉顯(xian)率領官兵十四(si)萬(wan)(wan)出征,“克(ke)寨(zhai)六十余,俘斬四(si)千六百名,拓地四(si)百余里,得諸(zhu)葛銅鼓九十三(san)(san)”。萬(wan)(wan)歷三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)六月,升兵部(bu)右侍郎。
張(zhang)(zhang)居(ju)正死后,曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾受(shou)到(dao)牽連,浙江道監(jian)(jian)察御(yu)史王國(guo)彈(dan)劾曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾“勾(gou)結馮保(bao),相倚為(wei)奸”,“送馮保(bao)金銀若(ruo)干兩,圖(tu)謀升官”,戶科給事(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)王繼光疏(shu)參曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾“十(shi)罪”。高(gao)拱(gong)《病榻遺言》說(shuo):“隆慶六年(nian),曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾授意其門生、戶科給事(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)曹大(da)野(ye)彈(dan)劾高(gao)拱(gong),并(bing)許以高(gao)官厚祿。”。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)年(nian)十(shi)二(er)(er)月,被(bei)勒令致仕。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)二(er)(er)年(nian)四月,邱橓(shun)與錦衣衛都指揮曹應龍、司禮監(jian)(jian)太監(jian)(jian)張(zhang)(zhang)誠(cheng)前(qian)往張(zhang)(zhang)家(jia)抄(chao)家(jia),張(zhang)(zhang)居(ju)正長子張(zhang)(zhang)敬(jing)(jing)修(xiu)被(bei)屈打成招,供出曾(ceng)經向曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾、王篆、傅(fu)作舟三(san)家(jia)轉移(yi)、藏(zang)匿財產,約值銀三(san)十(shi)萬(wan)(wan)兩。張(zhang)(zhang)敬(jing)(jing)修(xiu)最(zui)后自縊死,臨死前(qian)寫下(xia)一絕命書(shu)。丘橓(shun)派人(ren)查封曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾等(deng)人(ren)家(jia)產,并(bing)將曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾、王篆法辦(ban),“曾(ceng)角巾青(qing)衣,王直囚(qiu)服乞哀,中(zhong)(zhong)官杖(zhang)之”。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)二(er)(er)年(nian)三(san)月,工科給事(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)唐堯欽上書(shu)要求重懲曾(ceng)省(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)吾。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)二(er)(er)年(nian)十(shi)月,籍(ji)沒家(jia)產,原籍(ji)為(wei)民,永不敘用。著有《確庵(an)曾(ceng)先(xian)生西蜀平蠻全錄》(北京圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)古籍(ji)珍本叢刊,第9冊(ce),書(shu)目文獻出版社1988年(nian)),《千弓壩(ba)石橋(qiao)記(ji)》等(deng)。